Today was the Respiratory Health Association of Chicago (RHA) http://www.lungchicago.org Annual Hike for Lung Health; 3 miles through beautiful Lincoln Park in downtown Chicago. I did it last year for the first time only 10 months post transplant. I finished and was thrilled that I could raise money for a great cause and accomplished something that, for me, was a big deal so soon after transplant.
Well, since then I have been having physical challenges with my legs; extreme pain and weakness and it's been very hard to keep up with my walking due to the pain. But I have kept at it while going through an array of tests to try to determine what's going on with my legs.
It hasn't been easy. The pain has kept me up all night on more than a few occasions, but I can't allow myself to go back to the poor condition I was in while waiting for my lung. So I persevere and just do what I can do.
I didn't know if I'd be able to do all 3 miles today but I was going to try. Several wonderful ladies from the RHA walked beside me the entire way and that kept my mind off the pain and helped me push through all the way to the finish line!
Well, since then I have been having physical challenges with my legs; extreme pain and weakness and it's been very hard to keep up with my walking due to the pain. But I have kept at it while going through an array of tests to try to determine what's going on with my legs.
It hasn't been easy. The pain has kept me up all night on more than a few occasions, but I can't allow myself to go back to the poor condition I was in while waiting for my lung. So I persevere and just do what I can do.
I didn't know if I'd be able to do all 3 miles today but I was going to try. Several wonderful ladies from the RHA walked beside me the entire way and that kept my mind off the pain and helped me push through all the way to the finish line!
Here I am crossing the finish line, arms raised in celebration!
I cannot tell you what it means to me, even with all the side effect challenges I have, to be able to walk 3 miles. After being so sick, having my lungs fail me (a mystery we will never understand) and needing a lung transplant to survive, being able to accomplish an event like this means the world to me.
Many of my friends and family made donations to my fundraising campaign and I was able to raise over $1,000 and I am so grateful to each an every single person who donated. But I am also so grateful for all the pep talks, encouragement and support to keep on trying and see if I could do it. You all got me across that finish line. I needed a good nap by the time I got home, but it was so satisfying to be able to say I DID IT!
Check me out getting to meet Illinois Secretary of State, Jesse White
at the Hike and thank him for his support of organ donation!
Me and some of the hard working and wonderful ladies
of the RHA Staff before the Hike!
Me and Chair Elect of the RHA Board of Directors, David B. Yelin, Esq.
Today was a great day for me and so many fighting lung issues and working to raise awareness and money for clean air!
My thanks to everyone from the RHA for making me feel I was part of their team and supporting me and my efforts in today's great Hike for Lung Health!
No matter how hard or challenging, I will Never Surrender to it and keep on walking!
"Never Surrender" - Corey Hart
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